@someone_else_again Said
That got your attention didn't it?
Why did you click on this thread?
How do you feel about the term "Colored People" or the variations of it...and why?
As I understand it the term nigger/nigra (from the Spanish Negro meaning black) was a non-pejorative word used in reference to slaves whose origin was sub-Saharan Africa. In the beginning of the 20th century nigger came to be considered a slur and the term colored was adopted. (e.g. NAACP). Colored was used until the mid 20th century when the civil rights movement started and the term black became the accepted term. By the end of the 20th century the term African American, although cumbersome, became the accepted term. This is an appropriate description in that the majority of Americans of African decent tend to be genetically different from the African that they descended from.
If, in fact, the human race originated in Africa we are all, technically, African Americans. Personally I do not see my self as a European American; just an American.
(Note: Apparently the word black and nigger were use interchangeably as far back as the 18th century)
(Note: In a recent census document I filled out after the question about my race I was given choices such as white, African American, Hispanic (I don’t even think that is a race) etc. I checked the box labeled ‘other’ and wrote in human. They actually sent someone to my house to determine my race; as if that is somehow important. Anyway I have been officially declared white.)
(Note: I wonder if there are people in Europe who call themselves African Europeans.)